While many groups over the years, including PTAs and the NAACP, have pushed for constant parent involvement in the school system, common sense should tell them and everyone else to stay out of it. Constant parental involvement stunts the growth of the students it is supposed to assist.
When parents email their child's teacher about whether or not their child has turned in homework or gotten a good test grade, they stunt that child's growth. If your child is in the first grade and you need to check to see if their homework was turned in, that's fine. By middle school however, your child needs to be responsible for their own work. Good, college bound students are able to stay on top of their own school work by the age of 12. When parents hound teachers about homework grades, it denies their child the opportunity to grow up and be held accountable for their own success. Preteens and teenagers today are more immature than ever. We now live in a world where parents write their children's college admission essays. Parents need to step aside and let their children shine - and sometimes, let them fail. Every time a mother emails her middle school student's teacher to make sure she did her homework and read the book for class, she isn't ensuring that child's success. She's ensuring that child's failure by saying, "Hey, if you screw up, I'll step in and make sure you are on track." Rather than learn to write down her homework and be responsible with turning it on time, she learns that mommy will remember the homework for her and badger the teacher to take the homework late so that she can complete the homework whenever she feels like it.
This is not a recipe for successful, smart teens. This is a recipe for adults that don't understand a deadline is a deadline and that the electric bill due date is not negotiable.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Smaller Class Sizes - A Case for and Against Them
Most educators would argue that smaller class sizes increase the quality of education that the students receive. I can only partially agree. While small class sizes decrease discipline problems, discipline issues in the schools should be remedied by harsher punishments and stricter parents. The real boon with small class sizes is, in fact, the facilitation of class discussion. It is almost impossible to hold an enlightening, focused conversation on any subject with 30 twelve year olds. Drop that number to 15, and suddenly an intelligent discussion begins.
I would argue, however, that some class sizes in high school should be large in order to prepare students for college. In a small classroom, the teacher knows the student as a person, is on top of what work the student owes, and can tailor instruction to the child's needs. This makes small class sizes in elementary schools and some middle schools essential to the growth of the student. In high school, however, small class sizes may do students a disservice.
In college, most general education classes are huge - and most students will spend the first two years of college in general education classes. During my freshman year of college, I actually had a class with over 600 people in it. While the smaller, more in-depth senior level classes were definitely my favorites, the huge general education classes are something every student has to go through. Small class sizes at the high school level set students up to expect tailored instruction and constant help from a teacher.
In the lecture hall, no one knows if you turned in your homework and frankly, no one cares. You sink or you swim. Your professor is instructing several hundred other students, and doesn't have time to let you give excuses for your late work or to run practice problems with you. If you need help, you meet with a TA on his or her schedule in a narrow appointment time allotted to you. This means that small class sizes in high school may not adequately prepare students for the realities of college. While small English classes are alright, because even Freshman English usually has some small discussion groups involved, many classes should be large. Students need to learn to be accountable for themselves and their work. Large class sizes in high school can provide students with the chance to practice succeeding in an environment where success and failure hinges on their work ethic alone.
I would argue, however, that some class sizes in high school should be large in order to prepare students for college. In a small classroom, the teacher knows the student as a person, is on top of what work the student owes, and can tailor instruction to the child's needs. This makes small class sizes in elementary schools and some middle schools essential to the growth of the student. In high school, however, small class sizes may do students a disservice.
In college, most general education classes are huge - and most students will spend the first two years of college in general education classes. During my freshman year of college, I actually had a class with over 600 people in it. While the smaller, more in-depth senior level classes were definitely my favorites, the huge general education classes are something every student has to go through. Small class sizes at the high school level set students up to expect tailored instruction and constant help from a teacher.
In the lecture hall, no one knows if you turned in your homework and frankly, no one cares. You sink or you swim. Your professor is instructing several hundred other students, and doesn't have time to let you give excuses for your late work or to run practice problems with you. If you need help, you meet with a TA on his or her schedule in a narrow appointment time allotted to you. This means that small class sizes in high school may not adequately prepare students for the realities of college. While small English classes are alright, because even Freshman English usually has some small discussion groups involved, many classes should be large. Students need to learn to be accountable for themselves and their work. Large class sizes in high school can provide students with the chance to practice succeeding in an environment where success and failure hinges on their work ethic alone.
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